GUEST OPINION: Casino: The death knell to struggling Taunton businesses

In response to some of the Taunton Daily Gazette’s submitted letters to the editor and guest opinion columns, I, too, am a business owner/operator of a 66-year-old family owned business in Taunton. In more than 66 years, my family and I have been called upon frequently to help in many community projects R...

By John Snigier

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By John Snigier

Posted Jul. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2012 at 6:15 PM

By John Snigier

Posted Jul. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2012 at 6:15 PM

» Social News

In response to some of the Taunton Daily Gazette’s submitted letters to the editor and guest opinion columns, I, too, am a business owner/operator of a 66-year-old family owned business in Taunton. In more than 66 years, my family and I have been called upon frequently to help in many community projects — calls we have gladly answered.

While initially this Intergovernmental Agreement and casino complex may seem like a fast answer to everyone’s prayers, upon further scrutiny, it may prove to be our eternal damnation for several reasons and deserves more time for investigation by cooler heads.

As a “destination” complex, it, by definition, is self contained, including restaurants, bars, hotels and recreational facilities. Why would someone or any group stop at surrounding restaurants, hotels, bars or other businesses and fight the traffic jams that they themselves are contributing to, rather than partake of the facilities at their “destination” — the casino complex?

This may actually lessen business for most established businesses as local customers may want to avoid the traffic jams and go to surrounding towns. Many customers of existing businesses may opt to bypass them and instead patronize the top quality restaurants and entertainment at the casino complex. Think: summer Cape traffic and Christmas rush traffic combined. The only businesses that will be positively impacted will likely be those few that supply wholesale goods directly to the casino complex. Most will be from their own external bulk suppliers.

Local real estate values will likely be diminished as the possibility of quality-of-life issues appear. School-related traffic in the morning and afternoon will be greatly impacted by casino traffic. Particularly affected will be traffic and student safety from the Taunton High School complex. When coupled with traffic from citizens going home from work, a “perfect storm” of traffic nightmares is easily imagined.

If the job situation and bad economy continue, the casino likely will have financial problems and not be able to make its annual payments to the city. Being a sovereign nation as part of a reservation, legal or financial recourse is limited to non-existent.

However, the many police officers, fire, emergency response personnel and equipment will still have to be funded, but by the Taunton residents and existing businesses. Once the property becomes part of the Indian nation, there is no going back. As when a private business fails, it’s done!

The anticipated quantity and quality of jobs associated may not be, and likely won’t be the panacea promised. Just think: TIF, the tax incremental financing, for the new businesses brought into the industrial parks with little real estate tax paid initially with the promise of local employment.

If this worked as promised, the city would have surplus funds and the property tax rates for existing home and business owners would be almost non existent. Many not only don’t hire locals, but leave or threaten to leave when taxes increase, unless renegotiated by the city. Police, fire and emergency crews, along with road maintenance are borne by existing homeowners and businesses, and they still have to respond to those properties.

Page 2 of 2 -
Another related issue I haven’t seen addressed is the hydrology reports from the 1970s, authorized by then-Mayor Benjamin Friedman. These reports indicate a pure water capacity of approximately 2 million gallons per day, second, slightly, only to the wells at Camp Myles Standish/Dever. If Taunton is honestly intent on expansion, particularly commercially and industrially, the need for a dependable water supply is absolutely necessary.

Building permits for businesses and residences cannot be issued without sufficient water availability. Issuance depends on daily gallonage available. If something happens to our current source, Lake Assawompset in Lakeville, or if our access to its waters is restricted — including the possibility of loss by natural catastrophe such as earthquakes or terrorist contamination — we would have insufficient potable water capacity to fill our current and future requirements. Once this aquifer is deeded to the proposed reservation, we give up our claims to it forever!

Let’s not rush into this. If we make this giant leap, make sure there is solid ground at our landing point before jumping.